Danika Mason has issued an apology after slurring her words during a live broadcast from the Winter Olympics in Italy, admitting she ‘shouldn’t have had a drink’ before going on air
A glam Winter Olympics host has admitted she shouldn’t have had a drink before appearing live on air.
Australian journalist Danika Mason become an internet sensation after a video slurring her words during a live broadcast from the Winter Olympics in Italy went viral on social media – and she has now issued an apology.
In the clip, Danika became somewhat muddled during the live broadcast. She started by declaring: “Literally, the price of coffee over here is actually fine. It’s more the price of coffee in the US that we are gonna have to get used to…
“I’m not sure about…the iguanas? Where are we going with that one? But anyway…Let’s get into the day’s sport, because there is plenty happening back home.
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“We’re gonna start off with some [incoherent], actually their trip to the US, the UK rather, because Reece Walsh has stolen the show, he of course, did that in [incoherent], crowning four tries and claiming…”
Mason struggled through the rest of her sports bulletin, jumbling her words and even mixing up the UK with the US, whilst studio presenter Karl Stefanovic chuckled in the background, reports the Express.
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She also seemed to mispronounce the rugby side Brisbane Broncos as Brisk Moroccos. “Look the cold weather is a thing, right?” Stevanovic remarked unprompted afterwards. “You can’t actually move your lips.”
In a statement, Danika has acknowledged she had “misjudged the situation” by consuming alcohol before appearing on air, explaining that the altitude, freezing temperatures and skipping dinner had also contributed.
Confessing she felt “embarrassed”, Danika said: “I want to take full responsibility, it’s not the standard I set myself.”
The incident has also prompted the Australian Prime Minister to offer his thoughts. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came to the presenter’s defence, declaring he was ‘proDanika’ and maintaining there was “nothing to see here”.
The well-known sports correspondent, most recognised for her National Rugby League reporting, returned to the ‘Today show’ on Thursday morning where she wished to ‘take a moment’ simply to apologise.
“I’m OK, probably just a little embarrassed,” Mason said. “Look, I totally misjudged the situation, I shouldn’t have had a drink, especially in these conditions, it’s cold, we’ve got altitude, and not having had dinner probably didn’t help as well.
“But I want to take full responsibility, it’s not the standard I set myself. So in saying that, I’m genuinely really sorry and I’m thanking everyone for those messages I’ve received as well.”
Today show presenter Jayne Azzopardi replied by saying: “We know how hard you work, Danika,” whilst Stefanovic called her a “legend”.